Systems, methods and devices for secure data storage with wireless authentication

Abstract

A secure data storage device with wireless authentication is provided. The described data storage device is wirelessly unlocked using another wireless device. The secure data storage device interoperates with a cloud server for configuring and managing the data storage device.

1 . A wireless secure data storage device comprising:
 a data store connected to one or more interfaces for transferring data from the data store;   a processing unit;   an electronic switch;   one or more wireless communication components coupled to the processing unit for communicating with a host device for obtaining authentication data; and   a location sensor for determining the location of the wireless secure data storage device based on an additional device;   
       wherein the electronic switch and the processing unit cooperate to switch the device between a closed state, where data cannot be accessed from the data store through the one or more interfaces, to an open state, where data can be accessed from the data store through the one or more interfaces, upon the processing unit matching obtained authentication data to a stored secret key and the location sensor determining that the wireless secure data storage device is within a predetermined range. 
     
     
         2 . The wireless secure data storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the additional device is the host device and the predetermined range is a predetermined proximity to the host device. 
     
     
         3 . The wireless secure data storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the additional device comprises GPS transmitting devices and the predetermined range is range surrounding an absolute location. 
     
     
         4 . The wireless secure data storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the additional device is multiple wireless devices. 
     
     
         5 . The wireless secure data storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless secure data storage device communicates its location with the additional deice to determine whether it is within the predetermined range. 
     
     
         6 . The wireless secure data storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic switch and the processing unit cooperate to switch the device from the open state to the closed state upon determining that the wireless secure data storage device has moved outside of the predetermined range. 
     
     
         7 . The wireless secure data storage device of  claim 6 , wherein the additional device is a mobile phone with means for alerting a user of the mobile phone that wireless secure data storage device has moved to outside of the predetermined range. 
     
     
         8 . The wireless secure data storage device of  claim 6 , wherein the additional device is a mobile phone with means for alerting a user of the mobile phone that wireless secure data storage device has moved to outside of the predetermined range and providing the user with the location of the wireless secure data storage device. 
     
     
         9 . The wireless secure data storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the location sensor is implemented by monitoring signal strength of the one or more wireless communications components and the predetermined range is determined based on the signal strength meeting a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         10 . A method of authenticating a user to a wireless secure data storage device comprising a data store connected to one or more interfaces, a processing unit, an electronic switch, one or more wireless communication components coupled to the processing unit, and a location sensor for determining the location of the wireless secure data storage device based on an additional device, the method comprising:
 obtaining, by the one or more wireless communication components, authentication data from a host device;   matching, by the processing unit, the authentication data to a stored secret key;   determining, by the location sensor, that the wireless secure data storage device is within a predetermined range; and   switching, by the processing unit and the electronic switch, the device from a closed state, where data cannot be accessed from the data store through the one or more interfaces, to an open state, where data can be accessed from the data store through the one or more interfaces.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the additional device is the host device and the predetermined range is a predetermined proximity to the host device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the additional device comprises GPS transmitting devices and the predetermined range is range surrounding an absolute location. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the additional device is multiple wireless devices. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the wireless secure data storage device communicates its location with the additional deice to determine whether it is within the predetermined range. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the electronic switch and the processing unit cooperate to switch the device from the open state to the closed state upon determining that the wireless secure data storage device has moved outside of the predetermined range. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the additional device is a mobile phone with means for alerting a user of the mobile phone that wireless secure data storage device has moved to outside of the predetermined range. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the additional device is a mobile phone with means for alerting a user of the mobile phone that wireless secure data storage device has moved to outside of the predetermined range and providing the user with the location of the wireless secure data storage device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the location sensor is implemented by monitoring signal strength of the one or more wireless communications components and the predetermined range is determined based on the signal strength meeting a predetermined threshold.